When was the species introduced to Australia? They arrived with Dutch ship wrecks in the 17th century. By the 1850s feral cat colonies had been established in the wild Why was it introduced? It was introduce to control rabbits, rats and mice Why has it survived so well in Australia?Rabbits and mice which constantly breed are there food source and therefore it was never in short supply, also they survived well because they don’t need high amounts of water, they can retain moisture from their prey. Rabbits also help feral cats by giving them burrows to live in. Feral cats are carnivores and also feed on other small mammals such as reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish, insects and even brush tail possums Where is it found? Indicate on a map of Australia? Feral cats are found all over Australia
where_feral_cats_are_found.JPG
The yellow indicates where in Australia they are found What diseases are associated with the species? Diseases such as toxoplasmosis and sarcosporidiosis are dieases that can be transmitted into native animals and domestic livestock, even human beings. If rabies were to come into Australia feral cats would most likely be the main carriers of the disease What control techniques have been tried to manage or exterminate the species? For example: shooting, culling, introducing other species and poison. Traps have been laid, baits have been put around, some cats have even been shot. Barrier fencing around areas is also being in placed to prevent them from entering. How is the species population regulated? They regulate the population by laying out traps and baits for otherwise the population will increase dramatically. What is the effect of the species on the landscape and indigenous flora and fauna? Feral cats have impacted the fauna dramatically, they have caused the extinction of many small to medium sized mammals including the ground nesting birds, red fronted parakeet and has seriously affected the bilby, mala and numbat populations. Feral cats have also threatened recovery programs for endangered species. By Melissa Gardner
Recreational vehicles such as four wheel drives and trail bikes Using recreation vehicles is common now days especially since vehicles are being made to drive better off road. This is a great way to see things in the environment and not have to walk everywhere as well as the fact you don’t have to worry about creatures in the environment that could be harmful when walking like spiders. But there are some negatives that recreation vehicles cause to the environment such as they can cause clearing of trees or shrub, they can erode the ground and gullies, rives, dams. When tracks become boggy new tracks are formed causing more of the environment to be harmed. It can also cause damage to water quality and the habitat of the fish that live in it. People still use recreation vehicles but they are trying to limit the amount of places that they can go to help the environment, it would be to difficult to cease using recreational vehicles for it is coming more and more common and now there are tourist routes that use recreation vehicles to show people the environment and make money. When this trend first started out people were using these vehicles wherever they could in the environment but it has since been found out that it is more dangerous if people do not stick to tracks made, therefore there has been an increase in using paths already made and gone over by many people in the past.
Activity 6
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Unit 2 – VCE – Outdoor & Environmental Studies Grampians National Park Introduction All answers can be found at http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/education/resource_kit/section4b.htm Introduction to Grampians National Park 1)Provide a summary of the Park (What does it contain?) There are over 970 different types of native plants that occur in the park, it’s the 3 biggest national park in the state. It’s very popular for bushwalking, car touring, picnicking, camping, rock climbing, photography and nature observation a.What activities can be complete within the park? Picnicking, bushwalking, camping within the park, swimming, cycling, horse riding, rock climbing and abseiling Landscape Characteristics 2)Explain the unique characteristics of the Grampians It has spectacular mountain ranges, richly coloured wildflowers, wildlife and human history. It has three spectacular sandstone ridges a.Where is the park located? It’s located in central western Victoria, 260 km by road, its north west of Melbourne Main cities near are - Horsham - Hamilton - Ararat - Stawell Climate of the Grampians Area 3)Provide a basic summary of the parks climate The area has relatively high rainfall, summer and autumn are usually warm and dry while winter and spring are usually cool and wet. Snow can fall on the higher ranges and the temperature can get below 0 a.What will be the expected temperature (min and max) and rainfall for themonth that we are away? Max- 35min-8 Rainfall- 43 ml Vegetation of the Grampians 4)Provide a Basic Summary of the vegetation of the Grampians Over 900 different plants and a variety of wildlife one third of victorias forna can be found in the park including over 20 naturally occurring plants, it has severely rare and endangered plants in the park a.What are the main Plant communities within the park? Stringy bark forest, rocky woodland, red gum forest, heathy woodland, riparian forest, heath land Animals of the Grampians 5)Explain the diversity of the animal species at the Grampians There is a great variety of wildlife in the Grampians, there is 43% of victorias bird species, 34% of victorias mammal species, 34% of the states amphibian species, 28% of victorias reptile’s species and 20% of victorias freshwater fish species a.What Mammals, Fish, Birds, Reptiles, and Amphibians can we expect to see? Heath mouse, Smokey mouse, squirrel glider, peregrine falcon, bush tailed rock wallaby, koalas, five species of kangaroo, wallabies, bandicoots, possums, lorikeets, honey eaters, parrots, cockatoos, wrens, robins, fantails, pigeon, sparrow, black bird, water skink Visitors to the Grampians National Park 6)Who uses the Grampians? Most visitors are from western Victoria, Melbourne, and eastern south Australia, many tourist are family groups with children aged between 5- 14. 80% were from Victoria, 48% from Melbourne, overseas visitors 10% overseas visitors are mainly from northern Europe, North America, New Zealand and Japan a.What do visitors do? Pleasure driving with site seeing and picnicking, camping and bush walking. There are many camping and picnicking grounds as long as many different walking tracks, as well as areas to rock climb. Visitors can also abseiling, paint, photograph, nature study, fishing, boating, swimming, four wheel driving, horse riding, cycling and wild life viewing b.How many visitors were there between 2000 and 2001 Between 2000 and 2001 there were 1505428 visitors to the Grampians
Grampians national park – plan of management 1. When was the Grampians declared a National park? It was declared in 1984 2. How much area does it cover? It covers 168,000 3. When was the area first discovered by European settles and by whom? The area was first discovered by European settles in 1836, and the area was found by NSW surveyor- general Sir Thomas Mitchell. 4. Explain why water is an important resource to the Grampians and the surrounding districts. Water is an important resource because off all the diverse wildlife and plant life in the ranges needs a fair amount of water to survive. The surrounding districts also need a fair amount of water to keep the land from being all dry, therefore preventing the out break of a bush fire. And also in the case of a bush fire occurring the surrounding areas need a fair amount to put the fire out or contain the fire from burning through towns. 5. Divide an A4 sheet of paper into 3 columns headed commercial, conservation and recreation. List as many current uses in each of the three categories as you can
Commercial
Conservation
Recreation
*Farming and agriculture *Cattle grazing in alpine areas *Timber harvesting- only when making paths * development- urban development
*Fire prevention measures- water storage * Management strategies-creation of walkways, viewing platforms chicken wire to stop falling rocks, closure and zoning of areas to conserve as well as rehabilitate, and low impact recreation.
* Recreational vehicles such as trail bikes and four- wheel drives *Camping *Rock climbing
6. Divide another A4 sheet of paper into 3 columns headed commercial, conservation and recreation. List as many past uses in each of the three categories as you can.
Commercial
Conservation
Recreation
*farming and agriculture *cattle grazing in alpine areas * timber harvesting * mining *development- urban development
*management strategies – declaring it a national park.
* recreational vehicles such as trial bikes and four- wheel drives *camping *rock climbing
7. For what reasons is the park regarded as an area of high conservation significance? It is regarded as an area of high conservation because of the diverse flora and fauna that live in the ranges along with the native plants and species that can only be found in the Grampians, the area also holds various history meanings with artefacts and items that are belonging to the aboriginal community and they hold great meaning that people don’t want to lose. 8. For what reasons is the park an area of significant cultural value? It has significant cultural value because of some of the aboriginal artefacts and items along with stories and drawings that came from there historic grandparents which they don’t want to lose and pass on to each generation. These items/stories have great meaning behind them and people would be upset to lose part of their history. 9. Successful management is vital for the long-term security of the park. Choose 2 different groups and list the possible conflicts that may arise between them over the use of the park. Trail bike riders and four wheel drive drivers- they may need to use the same tracks some times and the trial bike riders may be struggling to get up a hill which will then slow down the four wheel drivers, also trail bike riders may get to see more and take more tracks because there is less impact to create a trail bike track and four wheel drive drivers may want them to all drive on the same tracks. More access for people on trail bike riders then four wheel drivers and more people can go in four wheel drives then trail bikes so they need to have more for four wheel drives.
When was the species introduced to Australia? They arrived with Dutch ship wrecks in the 17th century. By the 1850s feral cat colonies had been established in the wild
Why was it introduced?
It was introduce to control rabbits, rats and mice
Why has it survived so well in Australia? Rabbits and mice which constantly breed are there food source and therefore it was never in short supply, also they survived well because they don’t need high amounts of water, they can retain moisture from their prey. Rabbits also help feral cats by giving them burrows to live in. Feral cats are carnivores and also feed on other small mammals such as reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish, insects and even brush tail possums
Where is it found? Indicate on a map of Australia?
Feral cats are found all over Australia
The yellow indicates where in Australia they are found
What diseases are associated with the species?
Diseases such as toxoplasmosis and sarcosporidiosis are dieases that can be transmitted into native animals and domestic livestock, even human beings. If rabies were to come into Australia feral cats would most likely be the main carriers of the disease
What control techniques have been tried to manage or exterminate the species? For example: shooting, culling, introducing other species and poison.
Traps have been laid, baits have been put around, some cats have even been shot. Barrier fencing around areas is also being in placed to prevent them from entering.
How is the species population regulated?
They regulate the population by laying out traps and baits for otherwise the population will increase dramatically.
What is the effect of the species on the landscape and indigenous flora and fauna?
Feral cats have impacted the fauna dramatically, they have caused the extinction of many small to medium sized mammals including the ground nesting birds, red fronted parakeet and has seriously affected the bilby, mala and numbat populations. Feral cats have also threatened recovery programs for endangered species.
By Melissa Gardner
Recreational vehicles such as four wheel drives and trail bikes
Using recreation vehicles is common now days especially since vehicles are being made to drive better off road. This is a great way to see things in the environment and not have to walk everywhere as well as the fact you don’t have to worry about creatures in the environment that could be harmful when walking like spiders. But there are some negatives that recreation vehicles cause to the environment such as they can cause clearing of trees or shrub, they can erode the ground and gullies, rives, dams. When tracks become boggy new tracks are formed causing more of the environment to be harmed. It can also cause damage to water quality and the habitat of the fish that live in it. People still use recreation vehicles but they are trying to limit the amount of places that they can go to help the environment, it would be to difficult to cease using recreational vehicles for it is coming more and more common and now there are tourist routes that use recreation vehicles to show people the environment and make money. When this trend first started out people were using these vehicles wherever they could in the environment but it has since been found out that it is more dangerous if people do not stick to tracks made, therefore there has been an increase in using paths already made and gone over by many people in the past.
Activity 6
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Unit 2 – VCE – Outdoor & Environmental Studies
Grampians National Park Introduction
All answers can be found at http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/education/resource_kit/section4b.htm
Introduction to Grampians National Park
1) Provide a summary of the Park (What does it contain?)
There are over 970 different types of native plants that occur in the park, it’s the 3 biggest national park in the state. It’s very popular for bushwalking, car touring, picnicking, camping, rock climbing, photography and nature observation
a. What activities can be complete within the park?
Picnicking, bushwalking, camping within the park, swimming, cycling, horse riding, rock climbing and abseiling
Landscape Characteristics
2) Explain the unique characteristics of the Grampians
It has spectacular mountain ranges, richly coloured wildflowers, wildlife and human history. It has three spectacular sandstone ridges
a. Where is the park located?
It’s located in central western Victoria, 260 km by road, its north west of Melbourne
Main cities near are - Horsham
- Hamilton
- Ararat
- Stawell
Climate of the Grampians Area
3) Provide a basic summary of the parks climate
The area has relatively high rainfall, summer and autumn are usually warm and dry while winter and spring are usually cool and wet. Snow can fall on the higher ranges and the temperature can get below 0
a. What will be the expected temperature (min and max) and rainfall for the month that we are away?
Max- 35 min-8
Rainfall- 43 ml
Vegetation of the Grampians
4) Provide a Basic Summary of the vegetation of the Grampians
Over 900 different plants and a variety of wildlife one third of victorias forna can be found in the park including over 20 naturally occurring plants, it has severely rare and endangered plants in the park
a. What are the main Plant communities within the park?
Stringy bark forest, rocky woodland, red gum forest, heathy woodland, riparian forest, heath land
Animals of the Grampians
5) Explain the diversity of the animal species at the Grampians
There is a great variety of wildlife in the Grampians, there is 43% of victorias bird species, 34% of victorias mammal species, 34% of the states amphibian species, 28% of victorias reptile’s species and 20% of victorias freshwater fish species
a. What Mammals, Fish, Birds, Reptiles, and Amphibians can we expect to see?
Heath mouse, Smokey mouse, squirrel glider, peregrine falcon, bush tailed rock wallaby, koalas, five species of kangaroo, wallabies, bandicoots, possums, lorikeets, honey eaters, parrots, cockatoos, wrens, robins, fantails, pigeon, sparrow, black bird, water skink
Visitors to the Grampians National Park
6) Who uses the Grampians?
Most visitors are from western Victoria, Melbourne, and eastern south Australia, many tourist are family groups with children aged between 5- 14. 80% were from Victoria, 48% from Melbourne, overseas visitors 10% overseas visitors are mainly from northern Europe, North America, New Zealand and Japan
a. What do visitors do?
Pleasure driving with site seeing and picnicking, camping and bush walking. There are many camping and picnicking grounds as long as many different walking tracks, as well as areas to rock climb.
Visitors can also abseiling, paint, photograph, nature study, fishing, boating, swimming, four wheel driving, horse riding, cycling and wild life viewing
b. How many visitors were there between 2000 and 2001
Between 2000 and 2001 there were 1505428 visitors to the Grampians
Grampians national park – plan of management
1. When was the Grampians declared a National park?
It was declared in 1984
2. How much area does it cover?
It covers 168,000
3. When was the area first discovered by European settles and by whom?
The area was first discovered by European settles in 1836, and the area was found by NSW surveyor- general Sir Thomas Mitchell.
4. Explain why water is an important resource to the Grampians and the surrounding districts.
Water is an important resource because off all the diverse wildlife and plant life in the ranges needs a fair amount of water to survive. The surrounding districts also need a fair amount of water to keep the land from being all dry, therefore preventing the out break of a bush fire. And also in the case of a bush fire occurring the surrounding areas need a fair amount to put the fire out or contain the fire from burning through towns.
5. Divide an A4 sheet of paper into 3 columns headed commercial, conservation and recreation. List as many current uses in each of the three categories as you can
*Cattle grazing in alpine areas
*Timber harvesting- only when making paths
* development- urban development
* Management strategies-creation of walkways, viewing platforms chicken wire to stop falling rocks, closure and zoning of areas to conserve as well as rehabilitate, and low impact recreation.
*Camping
*Rock climbing
6. Divide another A4 sheet of paper into 3 columns headed commercial, conservation and recreation. List as many past uses in each of the three
categories as you can.
*cattle grazing in alpine areas
* timber harvesting
* mining
*development- urban development
*camping
*rock climbing
7. For what reasons is the park regarded as an area of high conservation significance?
It is regarded as an area of high conservation because of the diverse flora and fauna that live in the ranges along with the native plants and species that can only be found in the Grampians, the area also holds various history meanings with artefacts and items that are belonging to the aboriginal community and they hold great meaning that people don’t want to lose.
8. For what reasons is the park an area of significant cultural value?
It has significant cultural value because of some of the aboriginal artefacts and items along with stories and drawings that came from there historic grandparents which they don’t want to lose and pass on to each generation. These items/stories have great meaning behind them and people would be upset to lose part of their history.
9. Successful management is vital for the long-term security of the park. Choose 2 different groups and list the possible conflicts that may arise between them over the use of the park.
Trail bike riders and four wheel drive drivers- they may need to use the same tracks some times and the trial bike riders may be struggling to get up a hill which will then slow down the four wheel drivers, also trail bike riders may get to see more and take more tracks because there is less impact to create a trail bike track and four wheel drive drivers may want them to all drive on the same tracks. More access for people on trail bike riders then four wheel drivers and more people can go in four wheel drives then trail bikes so they need to have more for four wheel drives.